Islamic Jihad, Tanzim attacks focus on civilians

[pistoff democrat]

Islamic Jihad and Tanzim are now initiating most of the suicide bombing attempts against Israeli civilians, Brig.-Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser, head of the Intelligence Corps research department, informed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.

Hamas, on the other hand, has now decided to focus on targets within Gaza Strip and the West Bank, he said. One explanation for this change in tactic, he said, is that Hamas is being influenced by the feelings among its public that terrorism against civilians in Israel is not being beneficial to the group.

Twenty-five suicide bombing attempts have been made in the past few months, with the attack on the Maxim restaurant in Haifa the only one that was not foiled by the security forces, he said.

Kupperwasser said that the attacks were an attempt to foil the cease-fire talks with the PA in Egypt.

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